[August 11, 2014]BANGKOK (Reuters) - Former Thai
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has returned home from a trip
overseas, putting an end to speculation she would stay away from
Thailand as prosecutors decide whether to indict her for mismanaging a
state rice-buying scheme.

Yingluck arrived at Bangkok's Don Muang airport close to midnight
on Sunday, her aide, Wim Roongwattanajinda, told Reuters, adding
that her lawyers were ready to fight the case.

Yingluck was forced by a court to step down on May 7 for abusing her
power by transferring a top state official. The military ousted her
government in a coup on May 22.

She faces jail and a political ban if the rice case goes to court
and she is convicted of dereliction of duty.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) says the rice-buying
scheme, the flagship policy that brought her to power in 2011, had
incurred billions of dollars in losses that she failed to stem. She
has rejected the allegations.

The scheme effectively priced Thai rice out of the export market and
Yingluck's government found few buyers for the millions of tonnes
that ended up in state stockpiles.

The NACC last week filed its findings to the attorney general and
recommended Yingluck's indictment. Prosecutors are expected to
decide whether to pursue the case within 30 days.

Yingluck was granted permission by the military junta to go to
Europe to attend the birthday party of her influential brother,
former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who has lived in self-exile since
2008 to avoid jail time for graft.

Yingluck's fortunes have been similar to those of her billionaire
brother.

Both led populist governments toppled in coups, despite being
elected in landslides, and both were subjected to legal action and
street protests by pro-establishment activists.

She and numerous political allies were briefly detained after the
military overthrew what was left of her government in May.

The junta remains in charge of Thailand until a military dominated
parliament that it set up last week chooses a prime minister and
cabinet to rule until elections, which are expected at the end of
next year.

(Reporting by Viparat Jantraprap; and Amy Sawitta Lefevre; Editing
by Martin Petty and Robert Birsel)